Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1887-08-04
HIS FIRST GRAFTON.
A Tsnderfoot's Fourth of-Juiy speech Up
In Black Bear Gulch.

In Black Bear Guich.
The sparsely settled, treeless and
CRASHES gulches and slopes of the
Rocky Mountains suggest little posi-
bility Of enjoyment in the way of pic
MICS or the usual methods of celebrat-
ing Independence day. And yet the
mountaineers always look forward to
the day with eager anticipations of
"good time" A gentleman spending
the summer in a most dreary little
mining camp, gives the following ac-
count of the manner in which the
Fourth of July was celebrated there
and of the part he was forced to take
in the programme:
II did not know" he writes, "that 8
celebration of any kind was intended
and was not little surprised when my
landlady asked:
"'Are you goin' to the big doin's up
in Black Bear Gulch, to-dayP'
"'What doingsP' l asked.
"'Why, amt you heerd bout emp
There's goin' to be speechin', an sing
in, an oratin, an foot-racin', an all
sorts of COINS on, up to the gulch.
Ev'ry body's goin'.'
$50 concluded to 90. The spot
where the celebration was held was two
miles distant. When l reached it l
found nearly two hundred persons as
sembled, about twenty women and girls
among the number. A rude platform
had been erected, and several enter
prising persons had refreshments of
various kinds for sale on rude counters
under the few scattering trees on the
mountain slope. Two violins and big
drum composed the orchestra. The
foot-racing programme had been carried
out, and was patiently waiting for the
appearance of the person who was to
do the 'oratin',' when a self-appointed
master of ceremonies vaulted lightly to
the platform and said:
d" It's time for the speechifying part
of this ere celebration. Any body that
wants to do it can come forward and
begin
mo one seemed inclined to accept
this generous offer.
Where's Bob Haynesp' asked the
man on the platform. He's the gabbiest
man in this country. He can beat an
auctioneer.'
THE gifted Bob not appearing, the
speaker cried out:
"Well, come long, somebod y! This
is a paterotic crowd, amt itP Aint
any body here got freedom an Fourth
of July enough in 'em to give the old
flag word an make the American
eagle feel goodp Has this thing got to
wind up with little hooray or two fol
liberty. an nothin' elseP'
There was no reply. just then, tc
my amazement, the man, total stran
ger to me, suddenly pointed one long
finger towards me and cried out
"Here stranger, you've got tongue
in your head, amt YEP Come long
here an crate sonnet
"Yes, 60 long! say somethin'! CRIED
some one else.
II had never attempted speech il
public in my life, and my blood raj
cold at the thought of doing SO. But {
dozen voices cried out:
"'Yes, yes, stranger; give us 6
speech!
I-I-indeed'- tried to say, but
the man on the platform roared out
laughing as he said it:
"'Here, why don't you boys 'scor
the gentleman to the PLATFORM Cam
yer have some style bout yerp'
"At once was kindly but effectively
lifted forward by the laughing crowd
and in a moment found myself on tn
platform, with cold chills running dow
my back. My tormentor said:
Ladies' an gentlemen, l now hav,
the honor of introducin' one of the ora
tors of the day, whose name l dom
happen to know. But that don't max
: any difference. Now, mister, give tn
old flag a send-off! You talk. and wei
do the hoorayin."
Ladies and gentlemen" l began
: II can't say that l find pleasure in thi
honor
"Hooray! hoorayr
"For feel myself wholly incompt
! tent to say any thing worthy the after
: tom
: "Hooray! hooray! hoorayr'
"Of so large-and-good-natur
and-and-intelligent an audience {
5 American citizens"
4 "Hooray! hooray! Pile it on stranger
Go ahead! We can stand itr'
, w-I-really, gentlemen"-
, "Hooray! hooray! hooray!'
s Really, gentlemen, find it difficu
e to give expression"-
"Hooray! hoeray! hoorsy!'
: 81 could not endure the ordeal an
longer, and eluding the hands that trie
to detain me, amid the boisterol
: laughter of the crowd, l ran for m
d horse, and jumping into the saddle,
d few minutes was racing down Il
4 gulch, the wild "hooray" of the crow
: ringing in my ears. That was my fir
e and last attempt to "orate. ~ Youth
Il Companion.
q
The Creation of Man.
s Not long ago bright little girl